Planning board recommends denial of Strata Development rezoning after resident flooding and road safety concerns

The Brevard County Planning & Zoning Local Planning Agency on Jan. 14 recommended denial of a rezoning request by Strata Development LLC for roughly 142 acres off East Chrisifoli Road after extensive testimony from neighbors about recurring flooding, rising groundwater and a substandard local road.

The applicant, represented by Kim Rozink and Katie Peck of Miranda Homes, asked to rezone AU and RR‑1 property to SR with a Binding Development Plan (BDP) that would limit the project to 61 half‑acre lots. Engineer Hassan Kamal told the board the conceptual plan would develop about 50–55 acres and preserve roughly 70–80 acres as wetland or upland buffer. Kamal said the county’s rule limits wetland impacts to 1.8% of a parcel (about 2½ acres on this site) and that final wetland lines and permitting would be resolved with St. Johns River Water Management District and county natural resources during site‑plan review.

But residents said the conceptual protections are not enough. “East Chrisifoli cannot handle the current traffic issues with the condition of the road,” said Terry White, a nearby resident, during public comment, adding that past developments have raised the groundwater and retention ponds have prolonged high water on adjacent properties. Other neighbors described houses that flooded for days after recent storms and urged the board to require a full wetland delineation and traffic/safety studies before any rezoning.

Board members pressed the applicant on precise wetland acreage and road capacity. Staff told the board the current zoning could theoretically allow up to 70 homes under pristine assumptions, but that wetlands and site constraints typically reduce that number; staff and engineers agreed that a definitive number depends on a formal wetland delineation and traffic analyses at the land‑development stage.

Board member Jared moved to recommend denial of the rezoning, citing unresolved infrastructure and floodplain questions; the motion carried as the board’s advisory recommendation to the County Commission. The applicant emphasized the 61‑lot cap would be written into a BDP, but several board members said they preferred a final, agency‑verified wetland delineation and traffic analysis before supporting a zoning change.

Because the Planning & Zoning board is advisory, the County Commission will make the final decision at its Feb. 5 meeting. The board urged the applicant to complete the wetland and traffic studies and suggested the applicant return with more definitive engineering prior to Commission review.

What’s next: The board’s recommendation (deny) will be included in the packet the County Commission receives on Feb. 5. The applicant may still present revised studies or conditions to the commission.